Rs.48 Crore Swindled in Four Months at Rs.40 Lakh Per Day
- B.R. Naidu & Co. running a massive corruption racket
- TTD IT and Vigilance officials accused of colluding with brokers
- Out of 800 tickets released daily, almost all going to agents
- Tickets sold out within 90 seconds of online release
- Rs.10,500 tickets resold for Rs.15,000 and above
- Tickets issued without mandatory security audits
- Auto-filling enabled only for SRIVANI tickets to facilitate the racket
- TDP leaders who once attacked the SRIVANI Trust now silent over the scam
- Government attempting to hide behind “technology failure” explanations
- Fresh allegations of diversion of SRIVANI temple construction funds to TDP-linked contractors
Massive Irregularities in SRIVANI Ticket Sales
Serious allegations of corruption have emerged in the booking and sale of Tirumala SRIVANI tickets, with accusations involving TTD officials, brokers, and travel agents. TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu, along with officials from the IT and Vigilance departments, is alleged to have colluded with agents to exploit devotees and siphon off crores of rupees through the online ticketing system.
Travel agencies are reportedly cornering hundreds of tickets within 10 to 15 seconds of their release and reselling them at inflated prices. Tickets officially priced at Rs.10,500 are allegedly being sold for Rs.15,000 or more. With nearly 800 tickets released every day, allegations suggest that around Rs.40 lakh is being looted daily, amounting to nearly Rs.48 crore over the last four months.
Under TTD norms, a single login is permitted to book only four tickets. However, hundreds of tickets allegedly getting booked within seconds has strengthened suspicions of organized manipulation.
From Criticizing SRIVANI to Profiting from It
During the YS Jagan government, the SRIVANI Trust and ticket allocation process functioned transparently and efficiently. At the time, TDP leaders and sections of yellow media repeatedly targeted the trust and even demanded its abolition.
However, after coming to power, the Chandrababu Naidu government not only retained the SRIVANI Trust but also increased ticket allocations after recognizing its massive revenue potential. Allegations are now surfacing that the ruling establishment has joined hands with brokers to convert the system into a large-scale money-making operation.
Government Blaming ‘Technology’ to Escape Accountability
YSRCP leaders, including former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, exposed the alleged SRIVANI ticket scam nearly one-and-a-half months ago. Despite this, no meaningful action has reportedly been taken.
Instead, TTD authorities are attempting to defend themselves by citing AI-based auto-filling and misuse of advanced technology by brokers. Officials claim that agents are using sophisticated software tools to instantly capture tickets online.
Critics, however, point out a glaring inconsistency — this “auto-filling” issue appears to affect only SRIVANI tickets. Other categories such as Rs.300 Special Entry Darshan tickets, seva tickets, accommodation bookings, and Kalyanotsavam tickets are reportedly unaffected.
Questions Over the New Ticketing Software
Concerns are also being raised over the new TCS-developed software introduced after June 2024. Allegations suggest that the irregularities began only after the software change.
Critics allege that B.R. Naidu and a close board member are benefiting from illegal daily collections generated through the SRIVANI ticket racket. Further controversy has emerged over the appointment of an allegedly unqualified officer as TTD IT General Manager. It is alleged that the officer does not even possess a B.Tech qualification and had earlier faced recovery proceedings over financial irregularities during overseas Kalyanotsavam events.
No Security Audits, Yet 800 Tickets Released Daily
Under the previous YSRCP government, the ticketing software reportedly underwent security audits every three months before SRIVANI ticket allocations were made.
Now, despite repeated allegations of broker infiltration, TTD is allegedly releasing 800 tickets daily without conducting mandatory security audits. Critics argue that if the system is genuinely secure, TTD must explain why only SRIVANI tickets are being instantly captured while all other ticket categories remain unaffected.
Fresh Allegations Over Temple Construction Funds
Simultaneously, allegations are emerging regarding the misuse of nearly Rs.750 crore in SRIVANI Trust funds in the name of constructing 5,000 temples and bhajan mandirs across the state.
The government is accused of planning to award these construction works to TDP-linked leaders without tenders, bypassing Endowments Department norms that mandate tendering for works exceeding Rs.5 lakh. Instructions allegedly issued during a departmental review meeting directed officials to execute these works through local public representatives rather than through transparent procedures.
Temple Projects Approved Earlier Now Cancelled
Critics also point out that the coalition government cancelled approvals for several temple construction projects sanctioned during the previous YSRCP government.
Out of 4,111 temple construction projects approved transparently under the previous administration, 622 were completed and 1,765 were under progress before the government changed. Orders were later issued to cancel projects that had not yet begun, leading to allegations that the coalition government is replacing transparent public projects with politically controlled contracts benefiting ruling party leaders.
